Internal combustion engine



June 18, 1935. c GUTZWILLER 2,005,141

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Jan. 16, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

5440;, C Gutwdler ATT RNEY June 18, 1935. E, Q GUTZWlLLER 2,005,141

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Jan. 16, 1933 2 Sheet s-Shset 2 IN V EN TOR.

A TTO EY Patented June 18, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE assignor ofone-hall. Plainfield, N. J.

to Ivan J. Arno, North Application January 16, 1933, Serial No. 651,929

20 Claims.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines of the rotary type; and the object of the invention is to provide an engine of the class described employing a cylinder casing having a central driven shaft and a rotor disposed on said shaft and rotating in the casing, and a plurality of radially movable cylinder heads or abutments spaced circumferentially of the casing and engaging the periphery of the rotor to divide the casing into a multiplicity of cylinders, each cylinder being formed between adjacent abutments; a further object being to provide a rotor for engines of the class described, in the form of an eccentric, and including an outer ring and side disks or plates rotatable within said ring to eliminate rotary, frictional engagement of the ring with said abutments; a further object being to provide each of the multiple cylinders with opposed intake and exhaust ports arranged adjacent the driven shaft and controlled by the rotor in its rotary movement through the casing, and means whereby the intake gases may be directed outwardly and radially in the respective cylinders to insure a proper charge of the cylinders and a perfect clean out of the exhaust gases; a further object being to provide means, preferably a fluid under pressure, for supporting the abutments in constant engagement with the periphery of the rotor, said fluid being preferably a lubricating oil to lubricate the abutments in their supports and guides and to provide smooth and free action thereon-,- a further objectzibeing to provide a gas and oil pump in the form of a rotor disposed at one side of the casing and serving to counterbalance the rotor of the engine in the operation thereof; a further object being to provide an engine of the class described wherein the rotor is actuated through a consecutive series of impulses from the consecutive cylinders, providing a smooth and positive drive of the drive shaft and any driven shaft coupled therewith, depending upon the particular use to which the engine is applied;

' a further object of the invention being to provide an engine of the class described, which by virtue of its construction and design is adaptable for use at higher speeds of revolu tion than any other engines of its class; and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in an engine of the class and for the purpose specified, which is simple in construction, eflicient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view through an engine made according to my invention, with part of the construction broken away.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, with part of the construction broken away; and,

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

For the purpose oi. illustrating one method of carrying my invention into eiiect, I have diagrammatically illustrated in the accompanying drawings an engine consisting of a main cylinder casing Ill in the form of an annular, ringlike body having circumierentially spaced, outwardly extending tubular abutment supports and guides H, in which abutments or cylinder,

heads l2 are movably mounted. The casing 10 includes side plates I3, ll, the outer walls of both of which have cooling fins l5 registering with corresponding fins on the ring-like body Hi. It will be understood, at this time, that while the design of the engine shown is of the air cooled type, other methods of cooling may be employed as is common in the art. The abutments l2 subdivide the casing into a plurality of cylinders I6, lBa, I61), I50, Hid, ISe, l6! and I69. At I1, I have shown spark plugs or other means of igniting the compressed gases communicating with each of said cylinders.

Mountedoeritralli oi 'th'e cylinder casingand in suitable bearings in the plates" l3, II, is a shaft l8. Mounted on the shaft within the easing and operating in the respective cylinders is a rotor IS in the form of an eccentric on said shaft, the rotor consisting of an annular ring I90 having side disks or plates l9b and Be, 40 which are rotatable in the ring l9a during the rotation of the shaft I 8, the hub portion of the plates 19b and |9c being secured to the shaft by a conventional key such as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

It will be thus seen that in the operation of the rotor, the ring He has simply an inward and outward radial movement with respect to the abutments and easing I 0, it being understood, however, that this ring will ultimately complete-a revolution with respect to the axis after many revolutions of the shaft Hi. This is due to the fact that a circumferential creepin action occurs due to friction and other causes which tend to constantly shift the point of contact of the outer surface of the ring l9a with respect to the members l2, and the advantage of this structural feature is that it will prevent wear on predetermined parts or sections only of the ring, and furthermore, it eliminates excessive wear on the ring which would be caused by a constant rotary action thereof with respect to the members l2, as will be apparent. Outwardly of the plate I3 is an intake manifold 20 arranged around the shaft ll. Adjacent said shaft, the plate I3 is provided with intake ports 2|, opening into each of the cylinders it to lGg inclusive, the intake ports 2l being preferably flared or tapered outwardly and radially cnd subdivided by a central, curved batlie 2la, which aids in directing the charge of intake gases outwardly and radially in the separate cylinders. The intake ports terminate at their outer ends in contracted or pointed portions 2lb as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings, or in other words, are of the same general contour as the exhaust ports 22 arranged in the side plate ll of the casing, it being noted, however, that the pointed ends 2lb of the intake ports are disposed in a direction opposite to the pointed ends 22b of the exhaust ports, so that in the operation of the rotor in the respective cylinders, the exhaust ports will be opened and closed in advance of the intake ports. It will also be noted that the exhaust ports are not of the tapered or beveled contour employed in the intake ports, and said exhaust ports open outwardly into an exhaust manifold 23 disposed around the shaft l8 and with which an exhaust pipe 230. communicates.

At one side of the cylinder casing ID, the intake side in the construction shown, is a. pump casing 24 in which is mounted a rotor 25 consisting of a ring 25a and integral side plates 25b and 250, the plates 25b and 25c rotating within the ring 25a, the latter being keyed against rotation in the casing 24 by the direct attachment of a plunger 26 therewith through the swivel connection as seen at 21. The plunger 28 is mounted in a pump cylinder 28 similar in general construction to the abutment guides ll.

vCoupled with the outer end of the pump cylinder 28 is an intake pipe 29 and an exhaust pipe 30 so that in the operation of the plunger 26 by the rotor 25, a lubricating oil or other fluid may be drawn from a suitable tank, not shown, into the pump cylinder 28 through the pipe 29 controlled by the check valve 29a and then discharged through the exhaust pipe 30, which is controlled by the check valve 30a. The oil so discharged is transmitted to annular pipes 3i and 32 disposed at opposite sides of the tubular guides ii and placed in communication with the chambers Ila thereof as is clearly seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings, so that the oil' under pressure may be introduced into the chambers lla to act upon the outer ends of the abutments l2 and serve to support said abutments in con- .stant engagement with the rotor I9.

I preferably groove the inner ends of the abutments l2 as seen at l2a so as to provide a seal between said abutments and the periphery of the rotor, the grooves forming pockets for the intake or burnt gases in the several positions of the abutments with respect to the rotor. Each of the pipes 3i and 32 is coupled with an overflow or pressure relief pipe 33 controlled by a suitable relief valve indicated at 34 in Fig. 1 of the drawings so as to maintain a substantially constant and balanced pressure on the oil or other fluid employed to support the abutments in engagement with the rotor at all times.

When lubricating oil is employed for controlling the abutments, I also couple with the pipe 30 a lubricating pipe 36 which supplies oil-to the bearings for the shaft II and into and through the shaft through .a port 38 provided in the shaft I. so as'to supply oil to the chamber 31 of the rotor 28 through the port 31a, note Fig. 2, and to the chamber 33 of the rotor I! through the supply port 38a, thus placing oil under pressure within the rotor and to permit a slight seepage of oil between the ring lQa and the plates lib and l9c.

In this connection, it will be noted that I also preferably employ sealing rings 23 on the opposite side edges of the ring l3a of the rotor to affect a seal of the rotor in the cylinder casing and to prevent a blow-bye. To insure the seal of the rings, small ports ll expose the inner surfaces of the rings 33 to the prevailing pressure in the respective cylinders l6 to I6 inclusive. To provide a free circulation of the lubricating oil to the rotor, the oil is exhausted through a port II, which is in communication with a pipe 42, which also communicates with the pipe 32, thus providing a constant circulation of the oil, which, as will be understood, will operate to cool the rotor in the operation of the engine. It will be noticed that the rotor 25 is disposed on the shaft la in a direction opposite that of the rotor is so as to balance said rotor, and the rotor 25 in its operation in the chamber 24a of the cylinder 24 will draw air into said chamber through the port 43 and discharge air from the chamber 24a under pressure through the port 44 and direct said air into and through asuitablecarburetor 45 so as'to supply a proper gaseous mixture to the intake manifold 20 through an intake pipe 46. The gasoline or other fuel is supplied to the carburetor 45 through a pipe I].

It will be noted that by employing separate side plates I3!) and I30 on the rotor IS, the introduction of fuel oil under pressure in the chamber 33 will operate to yieldably support the plates l9b and l9c in engagement with the side walls l3, ll of the cylinder casing.

The operation of my improved engine will be readily understood from the foregoing description when taken in connection with the accom panying drawings and the following statement. The rotor l9 rotates in the cylinder casing in a clockwise direction, and with the rotor in the position shown in Fig. 1, it will be understood that the cylinder I6 is in firing position; the cylinder l6a is at the middle of the compression stroke; the cylinder lBb is at the beginning of the compression stroke, with the intake ports still partially open so as to provide a supercharge of the cylinder; the cylinder llic is at the first stage of compression, the exhaust port of the cylinder beginning to close; the cylinder l6d is at the end of the exhaust stroke and the beginning of the intake stroke, that is to say, both intake and exhaust ports being fully open; the cylinder llie is nearing the completion of the exhaust stroke; the cylinder I6 is beginning the exhaust stroke, the exhaust port being partly open and the intake port still closed; whereas, the cylinder IE9 is at the middle of the firing or power stroke.

In other words, it will appear that each cylinder performs its firing stroke in successive order in the direction of rotation of the rotor I, it being understoodthat immediately after the firing position, which is substantially represented in the cylinder ii in Fig. .l of the drawings, the area of the cylinder immediately starts to increase as the rotor proceeds to rotate, until approximately two-thirds of the cylinder area are open to the combusted gases, at which time,

the exhaust ports 22 start to open, and when approximately half open, the intake ports begin to open, in which operation, the fresh charge of the explosive mixture is introduced into the outer end of. the respective cylinders by virtue of the.

contour of the intake ports 2i, so as to clean out and exhaust the burnt or spent gases through the ports 22. After the burnt gases have been exhausted, the exhaust port is first closed, leaving the intake port open to a slight degree to permit the precharging of the cylinders. It will thus appear that the explosive force is applied to the rotor in a tangential path with respect to its periphery, and as the area of the respective cylinders increases in the power stroke, the exposed surface of the rotor decreases by virtue of the inward radial movement of the abutments i2 thus tending to concentrate the energy upon a definite area of the rotor, rendering the effective power explosion upon the rotor most eflicient.

It will be understood that each of the cylinders ll to "g inclusive assumes the several positions indicated in all of the cylinders in Fig. 1, as well as positions intermediate those so indicated which would vary by the high speed of the eccentric or rotor from one dead center position in one cylinder to the dead center position of an adjacent cylinder." In the construcstructure II is enlarged to provide explosive chambers Ila, into which thespark plugs areexposed, and the contour of these enlargements may be varied to suit various types of motors and methods of operation. It will also be apparent that my invention is not necessarily limited to the arrangement of the spark plugs herein shown and described, nor am I limited to the formation of the annular cylinder as an integral unit as herein illustrated.

It will be understood that as the rotor it rotates in the cylinder casing, causing the outward movement by the rotor of the abutments l2 and the inward movement thereof by the fluid pressure in the chambers Ila, the fluid is disposed from one chamber Ila toadjacent chambers, and the pump 26 with the aid of the pressure regulating valve 34 maintains a substantially constant pressure to the oil or other fluid in the chambers Ha. as well as in the pipes 2| and 22.

It will also appear that while I have shown one method of supplying the combustible mixture to the respective cylinders, that I am not limited to this specific arrangement nor to the manner of controlling the operation of the cylinder heads or abutments herein disclosed, and various other changes in and modifications of the engine herein .shown and described may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A rotary, internal combustion engine of the class described comprising a cylinder casing, a plurality of abutments arranged circumferentially of the casing to divide the same into a plurality of adjacent cylinders, an eccentric rotor operating in the casing and cooperating with said abutments and driven by explosive charges from the successive cylinders, the cylinder casing including outwardly and radially projecting tubular abutment guides, means in the. chambers of said guides cooperating with the outer ends of the abutments for constantly supporting the inner ends of the abutments in engagement with said rotor, said last named means comprising a body ofoil with means for placing the oil of one abutment guide in communication with the other ofsaid guides, and means in operative engagement with the engine for supplying and maintaining said oil under predetermined pressure.

2. In an engine of the class described employing a plurality of -radially disposed abutments in a cylinder casing, a shaft centrally of the casing, an eccentric rotor on the shaft and operating in the casing, said rotor comprising an eccentric portion consisting of spaced side plates between which is a chamber, and a. ring mounted on the periphery of said eccentric portion and forming an enclosure wall for said chamber,

through said shaft, said ring being free from said eccentric portion and said abutments to permit free rotary movement of the eccentric portion within the ring and independent andslight rotary movement of the ring with respect to said abutments.

3. An engine of the class described comprising a cylinder casing,- an eccentric rotor in said casing, a plurality of abutments spaced circumferentially of the casing and dividing the same into a plurality of cylinders, common fluid pressure means holding all of the abutments in constant engagement with the periphery of the rotor and permitting outward radial movement of the abutments by the rotor, a driven shaft centrally of the casing and actuated by said rotor, means controlled by the rotor whereby explosive mixtures -may be introduced into the respective cylinders and the burnt gases exhausted there from whereby said rotor will be driven by the explosive charge of the successive cylinders to provide a substantially constant drive of therotor. l. l

4.' An engine of the class described comprising a cylinder casing, an eccentric rotor in said casing, a plurality of abutments spaced circumferentially of the casing and dividing the same into a plurality of cylinders, common fluid pressure means holding all of the abutments in constant engagement with the periphery of the rotorand permitting outward radial movement of the abutments by the rotor, a driven shaft centrally of the casing and actuated by said rotor; means controlled by the rotor whereby explosive mixtures may be introduced into the respective cylinders and the burnt gases exhausted therefrom whereby said rotor will be driven by the explo-' mixture will be introduced, and the arrangement of the intake and exhaust ports being such as to open and close the exhaust port in advance of said intake port.

5. An engine of the class described comprising a cylinder casing, an eccentric rotor in said casing, a plurality of abutments spaced circumferentially of the casing and dividing the same into a plurality of cylinders, common fluid pressure means holding all of the abutments in constant engagement with the periphery of the rotor and permitting outward radial movement of the abutments by the rotor, a driven shaft centrally of the casing and actuated by said rotor, means controlled by the rotor whereby explosive mixtures may be introduced into the respective cylinders and the burnt gases exhausted therefrom whereby said rotor will be driven by the explosive charge of the successive cylinders to provide a substantially constant drive of the rotor, said rotor comprising a ring, and side plates engaging the side walls of the casing and being freely rotatable in the ring to prevent direct axial rotation of the ring with said rotor.

6. An engine of the class described compris ing a cylinder casing, an eccentric rotor in said casing, a plurality of abutments spaced circumferentially of the casing and dividing the same into a plurality of cylinders, common fluid pressure means holding all of the abutments in constant engagement with the periphery of the rotor and permitting outward radial movement of the abutments by the rotor, a driven shaft centrally of the casing and actuated by said rotor, means controlled by the rotor whereby explosive mixtures may be introduced into the respective cylinders and the burnt gases exhausted therefrom whereby sa id rotor will be driven by the explosive charge of the successive cylinders to provide a substantially constant drive of the rotor, said rotor comprising a ring and side plates freely rotatable in the ring to prevent direct axial rotation of the ring with said rotor, the side plates of the rotor being independent of each other, and means for holding said plates in engagment with the side walls of the cylinder casing.

'7. An engine of the class described comprising a cylinder casing, an eccentric rotor in said casing, a plurality of abutments spaced circumferentially of the casing and dividing the same into a plurality of cylinders, common fluid pressure means holding all of the abutments in constant engagement with the periphery of the retor and permitting outward radial movement of the abutments by the rotor, a driven shaft centrally of the casing and actuated by said rotor, means controlled by the rotor whereby explosive mixtures may be introduced into the respective cylinders and the burnt gases exhausted therefrom whereby said rotor will be driven by the explosive charge of the successive cylinders to provide a substantially constant drive of the rotor, said rotor comprising a ring and side plates freely rotatable in the ring to prevent direct axial rotation of the ring with said rotor, the side plates of the rotor being independent of each other, means for holding said plates in engagement with the side walls of the cylinder casing, and the side edges of the ring of the rotor including sealing devices, the inner surfaces of which are exposed to the prevailing pressure of the cylinders.

8. An engine of the class described comprising a cylinder casing, a plurality of flat tubular portions projecting radially from the cylinder casing and equally spaced circumferentlally thereof, the chambers of said tubular portions opening into said casing, an eccentric rotor in the casing, a plurality of flat abutment plates mounted in the chambers of said tubular portions with the inner ends thereof extending into said casing to divide the casing into circumferentially spaced cylinders, means joining the outer ends of said tubular portions for introducing oil under pressure into the chambers of said tubular portions to act upon the outer ends of the abutments to support the same in constant engagement with the periphery of the rotor and permitting outward radial movement of the abutments by the rotor, a driven shaft centrally of the casing and actuated by said rotor, means including intake and exhaust ports in the casing and controlled by said rotor whereby said rotor is driven by the explosive charge of the successive cylinders to provide a constant drive of the rotor and the driven shaft, and

means coupled with said first named means for supplying oil under pressure thereto and to said chambers.

9. An engine of the class described comprising a cylinder casing, a plurality of flat tubular portions projecting radially from the cylinder casing and equallyspaced circumfercntially thereof, the chambers of said tubular portions opening into said casing, an eccentric rotor in the casing, a plurality of flat abutment plates mounted in the chambers of said tubular portions with the inner ends thereof extending into said casing to divide the casing into circumferentially spaced cylinders, means joining the outer ends of said tubular portions for introducing oil under pressure into the chambers ofsaid tubular portions to act upon the outer ends of the abutments to support the same in constant engagement with the periphery of the rotor and permitting outward radial movement of the abutments by the rotor, a driven shaft centrally of the casing and actuated by said rotor, means including intake and exhaust ports in the casing and controlled by said rotor whereby said rotor is driven by the explosive charge of the successive cylinders to provide a constant drive of the rotor and the driven shaft, means coupled with said first named means for supplying oil under pressure thereto and to said chambers, and means controlling the pressure-of oil supplied to said chambers.

10. An engine of the class described comprising a cylinder casing, a plurality of flat tubular portions projecting radially from the cylinder casing and equally spaced circumferentially thereof, the chambers of said tubular portions opening into said casing, an eccentric rotor in the casing, a plurality of flat abutment plates mounted in the chambers of said tubular portions with the inner ends thereof extending into said casing to divide the casing into circumferentially spaced cylinders, means joining the outer ends of said tubular portions for introducing oil under pressure into the chambers of said tubular portions to act upon the outer ends of the abutments to support the same in constant engagement with the periphery of the rotor and permitting outward radial movement of the abutments by the rotor, a driven shaft centrally of the casing and actuated by said rotor, the side walls of the cylinder casing being provided one with intake ports and the other with exhaust ports both opening into the respective cylinders adjacent the'driven shaft, the'opening and closing of said ports being controlled by said rotor, and means for supplying a gaseous mixture under pressure to the intake ports for supply to the respective cylinders whereby'the rotor is driven by the explosive charge of the successive cylinders to provide a constant drive of the rotor and driven shaft. 4

11. An engine of the class described compris ing a cylinder casing, a plurality .of flat tubular portions projections radially from the cylinder casing and equally spaced circumferentially thereof, the chambers of said tubular portions opening into said. casing, an eccentric rotor in the casing, a plurality of flatiabutment plates mounted in the chambers of said tubular portions with the inner ends thereof extending into said casing to divide the easing into circum-v ferentially spaced cylinders, means joining the outer ends of said tubular portions for introducing oil under pressure into the chambers of said tubular portions to act upon the outer ends of the abutments to support the same inconstant engagement withthe periphery of the rotor and ders to-provide a constant drive of the rotor. and

driven shaft and the intake andexhaust ports having contracted outer ends extending in opposite directions with respect to each other. to

the casing, a plurality of flat abutment plates mounted in the chambers of said tubular portions with the inner ends thereof extending into tubular portions to act upon the outer ends of the abutments to support the same in constant engagement with the periphery of the rotor and permitting outward radial movement of the abutments by the rotor, a driven shaft centrally of the casing and actuated by said rotor, the side walls of the cylinder casing being provided one with intake ports and the other with exhaust ports both opening into the respective cylinders adjacent the driven shaft, the opening and closof said ports being controlled by said rotor, means for supplying a gaseous mixture under pressure to the intake ports for supply to the respective cylinders whereby the rotor is driven by the explosive charge of the succemive cylinders to provide a constant drive of the rotor and driven shaft and the intake and exhaust ports having contracted outer ends extending in opposite directions with respect to each other to provide the opening and closing of the exhaust the class described involving a cylinder casing and a driven shaft centrally of the casing, an.

eccentric. rotor secured to the shaft within the casingtodisposethemajorpartoftherotorat one side of'the shaftgsaid rotor includingside plates fitting snugly within'the side walls of the .casing, an. annular peripheral ring supportedon the peripheral edges of said plates, said side plates being freely rotatable in said ring, the opposite side edges of the ring engaging adjacent of the cylinder casing whereby in the operation of the rotor, the side plates thereof will rotate in said ring without direct axial rotation of the ring with said plates, a plurality of flat abutment plates spaced circumferentially of the cylinder and movable radially thereof by said ring from. a point adjacent the driven shaft to an outer wall of the cylinder casing providing between said abutment plates in the operation of the engine, a successive series of substantially triangular cylinder chambers with intake and exhaust ports in the cylinder casing at the contracted inner ends of said triangular chambers, and the opening and closing of said ports be .controlled bysaid rotor.

14. In a rotary internal combustion engine of the class described involving a cylinder casing and a driven shaft centrally of the casing, an eccentric rotor secured to the shaft within the casing to dispose the major part of the rotor at one side of the shaft, said rotor including side plates fitting snugly within the side walls of the casing, an annular peripheral ring supported on the peripheral edges of said plates, said side plates being freely rotatable in said 'ring, the opposite side edges of the ring engaging adjacent surfaces of the cylinder casing whereby in the operation of the rotor, the side plates thereof will rotate in said ring without direct axial rotation of the ring with said plates, a plurality of flat abutment plates spaced circumferentially of the cylinder and movable radially thereof by said ring from a point adjacent the driven shaft to an outer wall of the cylinder casing providing between said abutment plates in the operation of the engine a successive series of substantially triangular cylinder chambers with intake and exhaust ports in the cylinder casing at the contracted inner ends of said triangular chambers, the opening and closing of said ports being controlled by said rotor, said cylinder casing including outwardly and radially projecting tubular abutment guides in which said abutments are slidably mounted, and means coupled with the outer ends of all of said guides and communicating-with the chambers thereof for introducing oil under pressure into said guides to support the abutment plates in constant engagement with the ring of said rotor. A

15. In a rotary internal combustion engine of the class described involving a cylinder casing and a driven shaft centrally of the casing, an eccentric rotor secured to the shaft within the casing to dispose the major part of the rotor at one side of the shaft, said rotor including side plates fitting snugly within the side walls of the casing. an annular peripheral rin'g supported on the peripheral edges of said plates. said side plates being freely rotatable in-said direct axial rotation of the ring with said plates,

a plurality of flat abutment plates spaced circumferentially of the cylinder and movable radially thereof by said ring from a point adjacent the driven shaft to an outer wall of the cylinder casing providing between said abutment plates in the operation of the engine a successive series of substantially triangular cylinder chambers with intake and exhaust ports in the cylinder casing at the contracted inner ends of said triangular chambers, the opening and closing of said ports being controlled 'by said rotor, said cylinder casing including outwardly and radially projecting tubular abutment guides in which said abutmentsare slidably mounted, means coupled with the outer ends of all of said guides and communicating with the chambers thereof for introducing oil under pressure into said guides to support the abutment plates in constant engagement with the ring of said rotor, and means for introducing oil through said driven shaft into the rotor intermediate the plates thereof.

16. In a rotary internal combustion engine comprising a cylindrical casing, a plurality of abutment plates spaced circumferentially of the casing and a drive shaft centrally of the easing, an eccentric rotor secured to the shaftwithin the casing to dispose the major part of the rotor at one side of the shaft, said rotor including side plates fitting snugly within the side walls of the casing, an annular peripheral ring supported on the peripheral edge of said plates, said side plates being freely rotatable in said ring, means maintaining the abutment plates in constant engagement with the ring, the opposite side edges of the ring engaging adjacent surfaces of the cylinder casing whereby, in the operation of the rotor the side plates thereof will rotate in said ring without direct axial rotation of the ring with said plates.

17. In a rotary internal combustion engine comprising a cylindrical casing, a plurality of abutment plates spaced circumferentially of the casing and a drive shaft centrally of the casing, an eccentric rotor secured to the shaft within the casing to dispose the major part of the rotor at one side of the shaft, said rotor including side plates fitting snugly within the side walls of the casing, an annular peripheral ring supported on the peripheral edge of said plates, said-side plates being freely rotatable 111 said ring, means maintaining the abutment plates in constant engagement with the ring the opposite side edges of the ring engaging adjacent surfaces of the cylinder casing whereby, in the operation of the rotor the side plates thereof will rotate in said ring without direct axial rotation of the ring with said plates, and sealing means between the side edges of said ring and adjacent surfaces of the cylinder casing.

18. In a rotary internal combustion engine comprising a cylindrical casing, a plurality of abutment plates spaced circumferentially of the casing and a drive shaft centrally of the easing, an eccentric rotor secured to the shaft within the casing to dispose the major part of the rotor at one side of the shaft, said rotor including side plates fitting snugly within the side walls of the casing, an annular peripheral ring supported on the peripheral edge. of said plates, said side plates being freely rotatable in said ring, means maintaining the abutment plates in constant engagement with the ring the opposite side edges of the ring engaging adjacent surfaces of the cylinder casing whereby, in the operation of the rotor the side plates thereof will rotate in said ring without direct the rings to support said rings in firm engagement with the side surfaces of the cylinder casing.

19. In a rotary internal combustion engine comprising a cylindrical casing, a plurality of abutment plates spaced circumferentially of the casing and a drive shaft centrally of the easing, an eccentric rotor secured to the shaft within the casing to dispose the major part of the rotor'at one side of the shaft, said rotor including side plates fitting snugly within the side walls of the casing, an annular peripheral ring supported on the peripheral edge of said plates, said side plates being freely rotatable in said ring, means maintaining the abutment plates in constant engagement with the ring the opposite side edges of the ring engaging adjacent surfaces of the cylinder casing whereby, in the operation of the rotor the side plates thereof will rotate in said ring without direct axial rotation of the ring with said plates, said plates having a chamber therebetween inwardly of said ring, and means including the driven shaft for introducing a lubricant into said chamber.

20. In a rotary internal combustion engine comprising a cylindrical casing, a plurality of abutment plates spaced circumferentially of the casing and a drive shaft centrally of the casing, an eccentric rotor secured to the shaft within the casing to dispose the major part of the rotor at one side of the shaft, said rotor including side plates fitting snugly within the side walls of the casing, an annular peripheral ring supported on the peripheral edge of said plates, said side plates being freely rotatable in'said ring, means maintaining the abutment plates in constant engagement with the ring the opposite side edges of the ring engaging adjacent surfaces of the cylinder casing whereby, in the operation of the rotor the side plates thereof will rotate in said ring without direct axial rotation of the ring with said plates, said plates having a chamber therebetween inwardly of said ring, means for limiting movement of said plates toward each other, and pressure means in said chamber for holding said plates in engagement with adjacent surfaces of the cylinder casing.

ERWIN CHARLES GUTZWILLER. 

